James William Fraser (1833 - 1873)

Born 12 Mar 1833 in Dingwall, Ross-shire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Helen Turnbull — married 24 Jun 1863 in Galt, Cambridge, Waterloo, Canada West

Descendants

Died 4 Dec 1873 at age 40 in Lefroy, Ontario, Canada

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Biography

The fun-loving and independent Christy Urquhart Fraser gave birth to James William Fraser, her sixth child, on 12 Mar 1833 in the small town of Dingwall, Rosshire, Scotland on Loch Ness. Christy was happy to see her baby son but was still mourning the loss of her two year old Alexander the year before. As she gazed at her new born in her arms, she saw another saddler. Her five sons would all become saddlers although Dingwall itself was a small town with a population of 2,139. But handling the leather to make a good saddle that fit both the horse and the rider was quite an art and she knew that her husband John enjoyed it!

They were good, upright God-fearing Highlanders but it was difficult to earn enough to survive, so they lived in the Almshouse on High Street, the main street of town.

Many parishes in Scotland operated small and informal poorhouse establishments variously known as almshouses, parish homes, parochial houses, or parish lodging houses. Parish accommodation was likely to be in small apartments or cottages. The inmates ('persons of good character') could live with as much freedom as in their own homes, often with their own furniture, and buying and cooking their own food. Dingwall had a parochial poorhouse located in a twostorey building at the junction of the High Street and Hill Street.

James, like his siblings was able to attend school until he was 14 or 15. School fees were kept low so that most could afford them but the Kirk paid the fees for 20 destitute children. Many townspeople were extremely poor and in want of regular employment. The food staples were potatoes, herring and oatmeal. Butcher meat was a luxury which they could not afford. There was no electric light.

As a teenager, James apprenticed to be a saddler with his father. His father was rather strict and severe with him.

James left home before he was 18. He enjoyed adventure and independence, and decided to travel and explore the world. He immigrated to Canada and landed in New York on a ship called Glasgow on July 27, 1857. He started his voyage in Glasgow, Scotland. He could not persuade anyone from his family to join him at the time.

James was able to find work as a clerk in David Davidson’s general Store. He also boarded with the Davidsons. The 1861 census of Innisfil (poetic name of Ireland) Township, James (age 27, single, with an occupation of “clerk”) was listed as living with David Davidson (“merchant”), David’s wife Joan (ne Laidlaw) and Joan’s brother Douglas Laidlaw (“merchant”). They lived in a 2-storey frame house on ½ acre of land. The family belonged to the Scottish Free Church”. Also boarding with them were Robert Forbutin, 30, labourer; a servant Fanny Boyd 19; and Mary Ann Smith 16. The population of Innisfil Township was about 1,800.

James wrote letters home to Scotland saying that there were jobs for the asking at decent rates of pay. So in 1862, his youngest brother David joined him to Ontario and settled near him.

The Davidsons had a wonderful niece named Helen. She was eight years younger than James. J

On 24 Jun 1863, James married Ellen/Helen Turnbull in Galt, Ontario. Their firstborn child, Nellie, was born in 1865. James loved this little one deeply.

James and Helen ran their own General Store in Lefroy a small village south of Barrie. The building was owned by Laidlaw and Fraser. Helen ran a dressmaking and millinery establishment above their General Store.

James enjoyed planning as well as details. He had a solid and accurate business sense and was willing to work hard. He was also good-natured.

During their years of running the store, other children were born to them - John, Jessie who only lived a year, Annie and then Jane, their youngest, in 1872. James loved them all deeply. The 1871 census shows that Helen’s mother Ellen Turnbull was living with them as was James Galloway, 30, a store clerk. (James Fraser 27, Ellen Fraser 32, Ellen Fraser 7, John Fraser 5, Anne Fraser 4, Ellen Turnbull 60, James Galloway 30)

Unfortunately, James Fraser died young - on 4 Dec 1873 at the age of 40. He was buried in Lefroy’s Churchill 6th line cemetery.

Helen remarried on 24 Oct 1878 in Guelph where her brother John Turnbull lived. She had two more children with her second husband Charles McKeggie. Helen and Charles continued to run the General Store in Lefroy.for some years. The 1881 census shows them living in Lefroy. Helen McKeggie, born 1842, living in Innisfil in the township of Simcoe South, Ontario. She was with her husband 34, children Helen Fraser 16; John Fraser 15; Annie Fraser 14; Jennie Fraser 10, son John McKeggie 2 and her mother Ellen Turnbull 70. Living with them was John A. Cameron, 25, a clerk in their store.

By 1891, they were living in Toronto with her mother, 85, and his mother Marian McKeggie age 75. They had a servant by the name of Sarah Dowlin to help them. The 1891 census shows them living in Toronto St James Ward where her husband 46 was a Grain Trader. With them were her children Annie Fraser, Jennie Fraser 20; John McKeggie 12, Marian McKeggie 10. Her mother Helen Turnbull died in 1898 at the age of 90.

In 1911, Helen and John McKeggie (Merchant) were living in Toronto South with Kate Hingher, 28. Helen died in 1926 and is buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.

Christening: 19 Mar 1833

Burial: Lefroy,Ontario,Canada -Churchill 6th line cemetary

Sources

• He was counted in a census in 1871 in Innisfil, Simcoe, Ontario, Canada.

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile Fraser-860 created through the import of doug english.ged on Oct 16, 2012 by Katharine E.